Ghana’s Embassy in Washington D.C. Reopens Today – GhArticles.com

Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. is set to reopen today, Thursday, May 29, 2025, after a brief closure initiated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The temporary shutdown, which began on Monday, May 26, followed allegations of corruption involving the Embassy’s visa section. According to Minister Ablakwa, a local IT staff member reportedly diverted embassy funds into a personal account—a revelation he shared in a Facebook post.

Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed strong support for the minister’s swift action. Speaking to journalists in Parliament, he praised the closure as a necessary step to protect public resources and ensure transparency.

“When we see corruption, when we see an act that is against the resetting of this country, we will not condone it. So, we support the minister for all the actions that he has taken. When the embassy reopens, the public will be served without an iota of corruption,” Dr. Vanderpuije stated.

However, the Minority in Parliament has cautioned the minister against using social media for sensitive foreign policy announcements. On Tuesday, May 27, Samuel A. Jinapor, Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the approach, calling it a break from Ghana’s tradition of quiet diplomacy.

“We were utterly shocked and surprised to learn of the decision through public announcements, rather than through prior engagement with the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Jinapor said.

While supporting the need for accountability, the Minority urged that such issues be handled with discretion to protect Ghana’s international image and the morale of foreign service officers.

“This approach has far-reaching repercussions on the morale of our foreign service officers, on the reputation of our country, and on the welfare of Ghanaian citizens abroad,” Jinapor added.